Kai's training officially began.
Darius looked at him with a calm, analytical gaze.
"Before we dive into any techniques," he said, "I need to see what your body can do. Physical strength is the going to be the foundation of your magic—without it, what I'm about to teach you won't work."
Kai nodded confidently, trying to hide his nervousness.
"Your body doesn't seem weak for someone your age," Darius observed, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Have you ever trained physically besides practicing magic?"
Kai hesitated for a moment, then met Darius's gaze with a steady look.
"Honestly," Kai said, "I've been training my body along with my magic. I've kept myself in shape—running, push-ups, sit-ups this whole time."
Darius's lips curled into a slight smile, impressed but not surprised.
"Good," he said, turning toward the open training ground. "That makes things easier."
He pointed to the vast expanse before them.
"Run—ten laps. No breaks."
Kai blinked, eyes darting across the sprawling field. The training ground was enormous—so wide that even a seasoned athlete might hesitate. Running two or three laps felt like a challenge for him—small, young, and still growing. But ten? That seemed impossible. His legs already felt heavy just thinking about it.
"Ten?" Kai echoed, voice trembling slightly. "That's… a lot."
Darius raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
"Yes, you heard me right. Ten laps—without stopping. And I want you to do it all in one go." His tone sharpened. "What's that look on your face? That confidence you had earlier—where did it go?" He chuckled softly. "You think you can't do it?"
Kai bit his lip, then exhaled slowly.
"...Fine."
Without another word, Kai started running.
The first two laps, he maintained a steady pace, breathing shallow but controlled. By the third, his breath was labored, and sweat dripped down his forehead. When he hit the fifth lap, his legs trembled—burning with fatigue—yet he pushed on, grit and resolve keeping him moving.
By the seventh lap, his steps slowed, but he refused to stop.
"Don't stop," Darius's voice echoed in his mind, almost like an unspoken command.
Kai clenched his teeth, gritted his resolve, and kept going. Finally, he finished the tenth lap, stumbling forward and nearly collapsing. His chest heaved, sweat pouring down his face, but he had done it—more than he thought he could.
He collapsed onto the ground, breathing hard, legs trembling.
"...Done," he managed, voice hoarse.
Darius watched him quietly, a faint smile touching his lips.
"Good," he said softly. "Rest for five minutes, then do it again."
Kai froze, eyes wide.
"Again?"
Darius's tone was firm.
"You heard me. If you want to progress, you'll have to push yourself harder than anyone else."
Kai's face tightened in frustration, but he nodded, knowing better than to argue.
"But… I just finished ten laps," he said weakly. "Are you trying to kill me?"
Darius's expression darkened slightly.
"If you can't even handle that, don't expect to use your magic normally—like others do. One day, when you grow up, you'll take your father's place. And if—given your condition—you can't even wield ice magic, what's the point of being born with the Glacius blood?"
Kai clenched his fists, feeling the sting of his words.
"I'm spending my time training you instead of my own family", Darius continued, voice steadier now. "Your father could have hired anyone to teach you. But he called me, because he trusts me. Trusts that I'll do right by you."
The weight of those words pressed heavily on Kai's shoulders.
He hesitated, then finally nodded.
"Understood."
His expression was a mix of resolve and reluctance.
Darius stepped closer, placing a hand gently on Kai's shoulder.
"Listen, Kai," he said softly, "I know what I'm doing. Just trust me. Your core might stabilize again—who knows?—but only if you follow my instructions."
Kai looked up, eyes determined.
"Okay," he said quietly. "I'll do it."
Darius nodded approvingly.
"Good. Two more minutes before your break is over."
But something strange flickered in Kai's mind. His body, already exhausted from the previous run, recovered far faster than before—almost too quickly. The sensation sent a shiver down his spine.
He lay on the ground, pondering. Will this really work? Could his core be able to stabilize someday?
He decided to trust Darius. The man didn't seem to have any ill intentions—his calm demeanor, his simple appearance, even his relaxed attitude—made Kai feel that he was in safe hands.
He pushed himself up, took a deep breath, and resumed running.
This time, the laps felt effortless. Two, three, four… and by the fifth, he showed no sign of fatigue. His pace was steady, controlled, almost natural.
Darius, observing from a distance, was visibly shocked. He had expected Kai to give up by the fifth lap, but the boy kept going.
"This boy..." Darius murmured with a faint smile, "he'll be able to do it."
Kai's body adjusted, his pace stabilizing as he crossed the seventh lap with ease. When he finished the tenth and finally slowed down, he was breathing heavily but not exhausted.
His face was flushed, sweat soaking his brow, but his breathing was steady—an improvement from before.
Darius stepped forward, a rare warmth in his eyes.
"You did well," he said, voice gentle. "I was testing you, and you exceeded my expectations."
Kai managed a small smile.
"It's because you asked me to do it," he said humbly.
Darius's gaze softened.
"It's not just that," he replied. "You have a strong will—something no amount of training can give you. That resolve will serve you well."
Kai nodded, feeling a new surge of confidence.
"So, what's the training method you mentioned?"
Darius's expression grew serious, and he took a step closer.
"The method I'll teach you is very challenging. Instead of focusing on your core to control mana, we're going to focus on your body—your physical form, your endurance, your strength."
Kai's eyes widened.
"But sir Damien," he asked hesitantly, "how did you master this? I mean…the way you spoke so highly of this, there must be something to it?"
Darius looked away, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks.
"Honestly… I never truly mastered it."
Kai's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Then… how are you going to teach me?"
Darius exhaled, a bit embarrassed.
He said quietly, "I think it would be better if you hear this story first before we start."
And so, Darius began his story—about a mysterious encounter in a forest, a strange ice mage who fought a demonic beast, and a small hut of ice that seemed to glow with eternity.
"I learned this training method from someone many years ago, back when I was young and naive—when I was like a curious child staring at a shiny toy, willing to do anything to get my hands on it. I was utterly obsessed with ice magic—passionate and a little crazy about it. One day, as I was making my way through the forest on my way home, I suddenly felt a cold, powerful surge of mana. It was unmistakably ice magic, and I was certain there was someone like me out there—another ice mage."
"There aren't many of us, you see. Ice magic is rare, almost like a hidden gem buried deep beneath the surface. My curiosity piqued, I quickened my steps, eager to meet a fellow practitioner. When I finally arrived at the spot, I saw a strange figure all alone in the woods. He was facing off against a beast—a giant tiger, but something was off about that creature. Its glowing red eyes shimmered with a demonic aura, and it radiated a strange, almost malevolent presence."
"I was just about to step in to help when suddenly… I saw it. Ice forming in his hands, shaping into a sword. But there was something strange about that magic—a peculiar, almost unsettling sight. I couldn't feel any ice mana from him, yet the ice sword he wielded emitted smoke as if it was melting—yet it wasn't. That was the first thing I knew: his ice magic was so precise, so stable, so chillingly perfect that I could feel its coldness, even if I couldn't sense the mana directly."
"And then, in the blink of an eye, he sliced through that beast's neck like butter, the blade so sharp and swift it seemed to cut through reality itself. The beast, after being struck, had its skin boiling as if submerged in hot water, steam rising and swirling around the wound—a sight I had never seen before. It was as if his magic defied the natural order, bending physics to his will."
"I stepped forward, heart pounding, and greeted him. But he didn't speak. He was about to turn and leave without a word, silent as the snow falling around us. I couldn't let that happen, I just couldn't let this chance go. I gathered my courage and called out", Please—I beg you… can you teach me what you did just now?
"He paused after hearing my plea, turning back to look at me. His expression was unreadable—calm, almost like a still pond. He didn't respond immediately, only turning his back and walking away into the shadows of the forest. But I understood what he meant: follow me."
I did, deep into the woods, until we arrived at a small hut made entirely of ice—an exquisite structure, shimmering like a jewel, untouched by time or heat. I'd never seen anything like it. The house looked as if it had been carved from a single, massive crystal—beautiful, cold, and eternal.
"Finally, he spoke, his voice soothing but carrying the weight of someone much older." You… I doubt you can learn it.
"His words hung in the air, but I didn't hesitate. I pressed on, voice trembling but determined." I'll do anything to learn from you. Please, give me a chance.
"He turned slowly, studying me with a quiet intensity. Then, after a moment, he said," We'll start tomorrow.
"My heart hammered in my chest as I left that place—a mixture of hope and disbelief. The next day, he explained how the training would go. At first, I hesitated. The methods he described were far from what I had learned so far. They were harsher, more demanding—an uncharted path I didn't know if I was ready for. But my love for ice magic burned brighter than my doubts. I steeled my resolve and nodded."
"He showed me everything—from start to finish, every step, every detail. For a whole year, I dedicated myself, trying my best every single day. But as time went on, the training grew more intense, more demanding. It required me to use my body more and my core less. My body simply couldn't keep up. I pushed harder, but eventually, I hit a wall."
"I gave up, unable to master it. He was disappointed, I could see it in his eyes, but he never spoke a word of anger or frustration. The very next day, when I returned, he was gone—his small house of ice vanished as if it had never existed. To this day, I haven't seen or heard about him again."
"He was a strange, mysterious figure—always hooded, obscuring his face, never revealing his name or origins. He never spoke of himself, and I never asked. He was like a ghost in the forest—frozen in time, leaving behind only a story that still lingers in my mind, a secret I carry with me."
Throughout Darius's story, Kai listened with rapt attention, hanging on every word as if it were a precious secret. When the tale finally concluded, Kai's eyes gleamed with curiosity and anticipation.
"You must have memorized all of that," he said eagerly. "If you're going to teach me, then every detail must be burned into your mind."
Darius looked at him with a faint, tired smile, eyes reflecting a mixture of exhaustion and conviction.
"You're right," he replied softly. "Even if I never truly mastered it myself, every step is etched deep within my memory—imprinted like a scar. I'll never forget a single detail."
"Then let's start," he said, eyes shining with anticipation.
Darius grinned.
"Yes. And remember—this isn't easy. But I believe you're capable of more than you think."
Kai's fists clenched.
"I'm ready."